Controversial and far-reaching, the new Criminal Justice Act 2003 is one of the most important pieces of criminal legislation ever passed. This comprehensive guide offers a clear explanation as to how the new law will affect current practice. It provides a quick overview of each of the new provisions, followed by a more detailed analysis with reference to appropriate cases and new and existing legislative provisions.

Major proposals contained in the Act include: new charging methods for offences; street bail; reverse presumptions under the Bail Act for offending while on bail, failing to appear and abolition of high court bail; overhaul of disclosure provisions; retrial for serious offences; overhaul of hearsay provisions; new definition of bad character and overhaul of admissibility provisions; new prosecution appeals mechanism for termination rulings; complete overhaul of sentencing, including new regime for dangerous offenders and life prisoners and introduction of new forms of custody including intermittent custody. The book includes a copy of the Act in full and details of a website dedicated to keeping you abreast of implementation dates. It will enable you to avoid potential pitfalls and negotiate these radical legislative changes with confidence.